A Physician s Prayer
Composed by Pope Pius XII
O Divine Physician concerned for the
welfare of both body and soul, Jesus, our
Redeemer, who during your life on earth
manifested a special love for the sick and
by your almighty power restored them to
health by the mere touch of your hand, we
who are called to the arduous tasks of the
medical profession adore you and
acknowledge you as our model and firm
support.
May our minds, hearts and hands always
be guided by you so that we may merit the
honor and praise which the Holy Spirit
pronounces in commendation of our pro-
fession (Sir 38: 1-15).
Grant us to realize more fully that we are
instruments of your mercy, called to coop-
erate with you in the work of safeguarding
the welfare of human beings and promot-
ing their development.
Enlighten our understanding, so hard
pressed by the innumerable ailments of
the human body, in order that, by the right
use of modern scientific knowledge in the
diagnosis of diseases, we may not be
misled by mere symptoms but discover
their true causes. We shall then feel safe in
prescribing the remedies which your
Providence has supplied.
Increase your love in our hearts so that,
seeing you in the sick, especially in those
who are most forsaken, we may reward
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St. Anthony Zaccaria Center
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4301 Hecktown Road An
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Tel. 610.6918648
their complete confidence in us by exhibit-
ing a continuous and unwearied solicitude
for their welfare.
Grant that, following your example, we
may always show fatherly kindness in our
sympathy, sincerity in giving advice, dili-
gence in our attendance, freedom from all
practices of deception, and gentleness in
breaking the sad news when confronted
with the mystery of death. Above all, help
us to be firm in upholding your law con-
cerning the sacredness of human life
against the false dictates of egoism and
unregulated lower instincts.
As physicians who take glory in your
name, we promise that in all our activity we
shall take into account the observance of
the moral order and be regulated by its
laws.
Grant, finally, that we ourselves, trusting
in the protection of ANTHONY MARY
ZACCARIA, the holy Physician, our
Patron and Protector, by a truly Christian
life and by the conscientious fulfillment of
the duties of our profession, may merit
some day to hear from your lips the sen-
tence of beatification promised to all those
who visit you in the person of your sick
brethren: "Come, you that are blessed by
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you" (Mt 25:34). Amen.
Source: The Sacred Congregation of Rites, The Raccolta, 1957
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ny Mary Distributed by the Barnabite Fathers